Good morning! A lot has been written about how big the 2026 World Cup will be with 48 teams and 104 games. Sunday’s FIFA announcement puts into focus how long the tournament will be: 39 days. It will take 14 days for the USMNT to just complete group play. In Qatar, it was 13 days from its opener against Wales to its exit against the Netherlands. A run to at least the quarterfinals will keep the USMNT alive for a month in 2026. Which is a very good thing if you view its involvement in the World Cup as the most important driver of interest in the tournament and soccer generally.
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